Saturday, April 21, 2012

A fine day of birding at Garret Mountain today was topped off when Larry Scacchetti looked up and saw a Swallow-Tailed Kite ! This was just my 3rd ever sighting of this species, so it was exciting to see this rarity well outside of it's normal range.

Saturday, April 07, 2012

Out today with the regulars of Andy, Jen, and Bill. Our destination was the waterfront in South Amboy for Gulls. Here we scoured the hundreds of Bonaparte's Gulls in search of the reported Little Gull(s). After high tide passed we finally had fine views of this uncommon Spring migrant.
It had been 5 years since I had seen this species, and my first that was in nearly-full adult plumage.

click to enlarge

Credit: Tommy Boyle

Other gulls seen were Rinug-Billed, Laughing, and of course the Herring and Greater-Blacked Backed.
Several brilliant plumaged Northern Gannets were fishing in the bay, along with a Great Cormorant, Double-Crested Cormorants, Brant, and Osprey. On the shore were some Boat-Tailed Grackles and a few Killdeer.

Later I stopped on Clinton Road and located a Louisiana Waterthrush on breeding territory & spent a nice calm half-hour watching this bird.